Solar firm use Queen's award to attack FITs cuts

A solar business winning an award selected by the Queen used the opportunity to launch a scathing attack on the Government.

Solarcentury were announced as a winner of the Queens Award for Enterprise, an annual event celebrating business today (April 21).

The solar company won the award for its C21e solar electric roof tile and slate, which it introduced in 2005, and used the occasion to attack the Government over cuts to Feed-In Tariffs (FITs).

Business leaders have claimed the current uncertainty around FITs has cost the UK around 90,000 jobs.

Accepting the award Solarcentury chief executive, Derry Newman, said: "The UK has the lowest solar ambitions of all major EU economies, less than 1% of our electricity is to be generated by solar by 2020.

"The current uncertainty risks inhibiting recruitment in this highly skilled and innovative industry, and threatens existing employment.

"The industry, through campaign group 'We Support Solar' is asking the Government to restore confidence in solar and have much greater ambition in the fastest growing electricity generating technology in the world."